Marshall Islands advisory: Preventing fatalities from falls on vessels

Eda Zenic -

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator has issued Marine Safety Advisory No. 10-24 to address the critical issue of fatalities caused by falls from height on RMI-flagged vessels. The advisory, dated 27 November 2024, is directed at vessel owners, operators, masters, nautical inspectors, and recognized organizations.

Overview of the Issue

Falls from height have been the leading cause of very serious marine casualties (VSMCs) on RMI-flagged vessels since 2019. These incidents have resulted in 22 fatalities, with 11 occurring in the past two years alone. This trend highlights a need for heightened awareness and stricter adherence to safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

Key Findings

The Administrator’s investigations revealed several trends and shortcomings in incidents involving falls from height:

  • Common Scenarios:
    • Falls occurred while descending inclined or vertical ladders, such as when entering cargo holds.
    • Other incidents involved the use of pilot ladders or accommodation ladders during rigging, ascending, or descending.
  • Safety Gaps:
    • While toolbox talks were typically conducted before tasks, they often failed to identify specific fall-related risks.
    • Inconsistent terminology within Safety Management System (SMS) procedures, such as "working from height" versus "working aloft," led to overlooked hazards.
    • Risk assessments, permits-to-work, and PPE protocols lacked sufficient detail and guidance.

Causal Factors

The investigations identified several root causes contributing to falls from height:

  1. Inadequate Hazard Assessments: Risks were not fully identified before starting tasks.
  2. Poor Supervision: Oversight was lacking both before and during the execution of tasks.
  3. Non-Compliance with Safety Procedures: Crewmembers failed to follow established protocols for working at height or near the ship's side.
  4. Failure to Exercise Stop-Work Authority: Hazardous conditions were observed but not addressed.
  5. Unsecured Equipment: Portable ladders and scaffolding were not adequately secured during use.
  6. Disregard for PPE: Some crewmembers deliberately failed to use appropriate safety equipment.
  7. Lack of Situational Awareness: Crewmembers were not sufficiently aware of their surroundings or the risks involved.

Recommendations

To prevent further fatalities and injuries, the Maritime Administrator has issued the following recommendations:

  1. Review and Update Safety Procedures: Owners and operators should revise their shipboard SMS to include detailed task- and location-specific safety assessments addressing fall risks.
  2. Promote Awareness through Safety Flyers: A "Safety Flyer on Falls" should be displayed prominently on board in areas where crew members are likely to see and interact with it daily.
  3. Conduct Safety Meetings: Masters should organize special safety meetings to review and discuss the advisory and safety flyer with the crew. This ensures that the risks associated with falls are fully understood and mitigated.